Smooth Jazz Therapy

Johnny Britt - MoJazz

Back in the early nineties (along with Norman Brown and Wayman Tisdale) trumpeter Johnny Britt's then group Impromp2 was among the first to sign with the legendary MoJazz label.  His brand new single, ‘MoJazz’, pays homage to the label and is in fact the lead single from his forthcoming new album ‘MoJazzin’.

Written by Britt, the track features Norman Brown and was mixed by Nils.  It has a real zest and is hugely evocative of that last decade of the twentieth century when arguable contemporary jazz was at its most edgy.

Of course smooth jazz fans will know singer, songwriter, producer, trumpeter and arranger Johnny Britt for his contributions to Boney James critically acclaimed CD, ‘Contact’.  Others may recall his work with the likes of Josh Groban, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, The Temptations, Maxwell, Peabo Bryson, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Norman Conners, Aaron Neville, Harvey Mason Jr. and Marcus Miller while film buffs are likely to recall his name in connection with blockbusters such as Ides Of March, The Lion King, Forest Gump and Spiderman 3.

 

 

Euge Groove - Sing My Song

Ever since 2000, when the runaway hit single ‘Vinyl’ blasted him into the contemporary jazz spotlight, the always-excellent Euge Groove has been the real smooth jazz deal.  The song was lifted from his self titled Warner Bros debut CD and set in motion a solo career that can not only be measured by his blockbuster live shows around the world but also by a discography of eleven best selling albums which is all set to become twelve with ‘Sing My Song’ that is released today, June 26, on the Shanachie label.

Spotlight On Willie Bradley

‘It’s On Now’ is the latest single from urban jazz trumpeter Willie Bradley and with a stunning featured performance from flautist Ragan Whiteside is very much the real smooth jazz deal.

Willie Bradley is a native of Orangeburg, SC and over the course of a rapidly developing career has become a ‘go to’ side-man for many soul, jazz and R & B luminaries such as Betty Carter, Gerald Albright, Walter Beasley, Alex Bugnon, Ronnie Laws, Hiroshima and Marion Meadows.

In 2014 Willie released his debut contemporary jazz CD, the highly acclaimed ‘Another Day & Time’.  It was produced and co-written by keyboard player Nicholas Cole and included a sumptuous cover of the seminal Bobby Caldwell smash ‘What You Won't Do For Love’ which featured Cole on keys plus input from another great trumpeter, Lin Rountree.

Willie has performed at shows around the country including at Catalina Island, The Soiled Dove in Denver, Spaghettini in Seal Beach, CA and the Newport Beach Jazz Festival.  He is also known as a member of the brass section with RJ & The Original James Brown Band with whom he has travelled extensively.

In 2018 Willie’s sophomore project, ‘Going With The Flow’, was considered for a Grammy in the category Best New Contemporary Jazz Instrumental Album and in addition provided radio ready tracks such as the title cut, ‘Bring Your ‘A’ Game’ and ‘In The Meantime’ that featured legendary soul vocalist Gerald Alston.

Julian Vaughn - Afternoon Delight

 

‘Supreme’ from bass player Julian Vaughn hit the streets in June 2019 and quickly made its mark with the delicious radio single ‘Afro Calypso’.  Now, twelve months on, the profile of this excellent collection is again being raised, this time with the servicing to radio of the zesty ‘Afternoon Delight’.

‘Supreme’ is Vaughn’s sixth album release and follows a whole line of radio ready collections that began to form on the Trippin n Rhythm label in 2012 with the appropriately titled ‘Breakthrough’.  He was back in 2015 with ‘Limitless’ while ‘Bona Fide’ followed two years later.

Kim Waters - Shakedown

For three decades Kim Waters has reigned supreme as one of the premier exponents of contemporary jazz.  Indeed Since 1989, and the release of his debut CD ‘Sweet & Saxy’, sax-man composer and producer Waters has been a constant on the urban-jazz landscape.  With a reputation for being one of the most technically gifted players around, he has released twenty-three recordings as a leader and has just made that twenty-four with ‘Shakedown’ on the always excellent Shanachie Entertainment label.

Bluey - Back Here Again

From as far back as 1980, Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick has been the heart life and soul of the internationally acclaimed Incognito.  It was then that the band put out its first demo single, ‘Parisienne Girl’ which, thanks to strong radio and club support, peaked at #73 in the UK charts.  Subsequently, and with a penchant that has developed over time for including a variety of guest singers, Incognito has continued to push the envelope of its own brand of jazz tinged soul.  Its music, often sophisticated, sometimes complex, but always compelling, has helped establish the band as one of the UK’s finest exports.  Now, in his fourth decade of shaping what has latterly come to be known as the neo soul scene, Bluey is back with ‘Tinted Sky’.  Due out June 26 on the Shanachie label it is his third project as a leader and follows his 2013 solo debut, ‘Leap Of Faith’ and ‘Life Between The Notes’ that came along two years later.

Showcasing the delights that ‘Tinted Sky’ is sure to bring, the first single being serviced to radio is the decidedly hypnotic ‘Back Here Again’ where Bluey on guitar really hits the spot.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Tinted Sky’.

Oli Silk - 6

With a string of choice albums to his name and a profile that makes him the United Kingdom’s favorite smooth jazz keyboard player, the superb Oli Silk is back with his sixth solo project, the appropriately titled ‘6’.  With eleven new compositions plus one carefully crafted cover this cool twelve-track collection not only finds Silk in top form but also in the company of some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz.

Groovn United - Sunset Breeze

With an infectious groove that might well get in your head and not go away ‘Sunset Breeze’ is the first single release from Swedish smooth jazz duo Nicke Holgersson and Ingemar Aberg, aka Groovn United.

Holgersson is an accomplished keyboard player and composer while guitar player, producer and composer Aberg has a track record that includes work with top ranking musicians and producers in LA.  Their keyboards and guitar interplay on ‘Sunset Breeze’ is a marriage made in heaven and with the line-up being completed by John ‘JR’ Robinson on drums plus Mezzoforte founder member Johann Asmundson on bass there is a little doubt that here is a collective with all the smooth jazz sensibilities it will ever need.

‘Sunset Breeze’ will be released June 19 and is well worth looking out for.